SC Superintendent Asks District to 'Remain Extremely Vigilant' Regarding Spread of COVID-19

The Board of Directors of the Spring Cove School District met for its regular monthly school board meeting Oct. 19, in the Administration Building boardroom with visitors participating remotely.

District Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker addressed concerns about rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the area in her superintendent’s report.

“Unfortunately,” Dr. Baker reported, “COVID cases are on the rise in our community with the level of community transmission reaching the classification of ‘substantial’ for the first time since the start of school. We currently have no COVID-positive students or staff and are not aware of any cases to date, in which a student has contracted the coronavirus through an exposure in the school setting. However, with this substantial level of community transmission, we must remain extremely vigilant in our mitigation efforts if we wish to remain open for in person instruction.”

Baker also cited the number of positive cases generating from the Penn State Altoona campus and the University Park campus in Centre County as “making a big difference” in local number of cases.

Baker said the new bus radios are still in the process of being installed, but the district has already found them to be a good investment. The transportation coordinator was able to test them by contacting bus drivers in areas where there was no cellular reception.

The emergency operations plans have been updated in preparation for the upcoming school security drills. Local police and other first responders have been invited to participate in upcoming drills.

Baker thanked Melissa Cerully, school safety and security coordinator, for her leadership on the revisions.

Baker said that the Central Scarlet Dragon football team will face Westmont Hilltop at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Hollidaysburg Tiger Stadium for the first District 6 football playoff game.

New scoreboards were recently installed in the Central High School gym. Baker thanked Ritchey's Dairy for its donation toward this purchase.

The school board unanimously ratified the Spring Cove School District Athletic Health and Safety Plan, which had been revised on Sept. 25 and again on Oct. 12.

The board also approved

• the hiring of Courtney Storm as varsity assistant girls' basketball coach at a salary of $2,622

• a memorandum of understanding for a cooperative sponsorship of a wrestling program with Williamsburg Community School District

• the approval of all game workers at a stipend of $50 per game, and the approval of all additional game workers.

A closed-door executive session of the school board was held for consideration of real property following adjournment of the Oct. 12 Committee of the Whole Meeting and another closed-door executive session was held for personnel purposes following adjournment of the regular school board meeting.

Due to social distancing requirements, meetings of the board will be offered to the public only remotely until further notice. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting, should contact Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker at the email address bbaker@springcovesd.org or call 224-3060 by noon the day of the meeting to receive access information.